BARRE — What bothers Thomas Mansfield Jr.'s sisters the most is that the man who was driving the SUV that struck him and his wife as they rode their motorcycle through Spencer Aug. 3 is "walking around free."

Meanwhile, they are waiting to hold a funeral for their 58-year-old brother until his wife is well enough to be there.

"It doesn't seem right," Mary Coppolino said, though she has come to understand she will need to be patient as accident investigation continues and the case moves through the court system.

Cindy Burdulis also wonders why the man who was allegedly driving drunk that night wasn't arrested and held or released on bail.

But Spencer Police Sgt. Michael Befford said officers continue to work daily on the case and they have filed an application for a criminal complaint in Western Worcester District Court in East Brookfield.

That means the charges against Marc Pillsbury of North Grafton — motor vehicle homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, negligent operation causing serious bodily injury and other charges — will be reviewed by a clerk magistrate who will determine whether there is enough evidence for the case to be prosecuted.

Ms. Coppolino chokes back tears when she thinks about how much she misses her brother's ability to make her laugh.

"He was the oldest. There were eight of us and he helped raise us because both our parents worked," she said. "He taught us to skate and swim."

When they were children the family moved from Bell Island, Newfoundland, to Barre. Years later, Ms. Coppolino and her big brother got their citizenship together.

Thomas and Jane Mansfield raised two children and were enjoying their four grandchildren.

"They called him Pup Pup and he took them everywhere, on vacation, he just loved them," Ms. Coppolino said.

He was close to his parents, dining with them twice a week and helping his father with a garden.

They are inconsolable, their daughters said.

The Mansfields had recently celebrated 35 years of marriage but seemed like newlyweds to those who knew them. The day of the accident, they'd been together at a jazz festival and were headed to Dunkin' Donuts in Spencer, a spot where many bikers meet up, for a coffee.

Police said Mr. Pillsbury was headed home from a wedding in Spencer. At the intersection of Meadow and Smithville roads, when the collision happened. It was about 10:45 p.m.

Ms. Coppolino said she was told her brother tried to "take the brunt of it" to protect his wife during the accident, having seen the car coming out of the side street.

It sounds to her like something her Navy veteran brother would do. And while she survived the crash, Mrs. Mansfield has a long road ahead her, the sisters-in-law said.

Both her legs were broken, three vertebrae also were broken, her hip had to be replaced and her arm was badly broken, as well. She has many other injuries and sometimes, Ms. Coppolino said, the sadness creeps across her face.

"She feels him (her husband) with her," Ms. Coppolino said, adding that she is working hard at a rehabilitation facility and enjoys calls and visits from family and friends.

"She stays strong," Ms. Burdulis said.

Police said they expect the show-cause hearing before the clerk magistrate to take place in the next few weeks and if the charges are issued, an arraignment for Mr. Pillsbury would follow soon after.

Contact Kim Ring at kring@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @kimmring.

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